1956 Truck body on 1980's chassis

I am looking to put a 1956 Dodge Truck Body on a 1980's style frame. Has anybody see or done this and if so would you recommend anything to do different

If you have both, measurements should give you a good idea of what you need to modify to make it work.

Ya, I was just seeing if anybody has done the leg work. I am a fabricator, just wanted to know if anybody has tried this mod.

Check the 90's Dakota dimensions, I think the Dakota is a better fit.

Sheldon

ya, I will have to do that. Thanks

I put a 50 cab (48-57 are similar at the floor level, I've had a few between 50 & 56) on an 80 short box 4x4 frame. The 50s cabs sit forward on the frame more then the 73-93 cab does, and the 50s cabs are not as long, front to back. The firewall-wheel well-radiator support is at least 6" shorter on the 50s front end and the 80s frame horns need to be cut off. The nose of the 50s sheetmetal needs to \sit right against the front frame crossmember, and that still puts the wheel well in the wrong place. The engine will sit about 4"-6" in side the firewall on an already short cab. I raised my cab 6" above the frame, makes the truck sit high, but was easier to deal with.

If your planning on doing a step side box, with the cab shifted forward on the frame, the box side wheel wells are just in the wrong place, weather you have a short box frame or a long box frame. These are not easy swaps. Here is a picture of my 50. A Dakota frame fits much better under these trucks. Gene

A guy down the road from me has a 2wd 94 dakota that he used all the body parts off from. It is ext cab, was a 318 auto truck the only thing left on the truck is the actual cab itself, but is easy enought ot lift off. I also have a 8 3/4 rear that will go in the dakota, just need the perches moved, its 1/4" wider than stock dakota rear and is a 742 housing. Let me know and I can find out more about the truck for you, if you want ot use a Dakota frame, this may work great for you.
I can take pics if need be also, I sold him the truck minus the engine and a few parts, so I know it was in descent shape, I just found one in better shape.

I think I am going to just update the suspension on the original frame. This sounds like my best way of doing things. Maybe a tubular arm front suspension or something like that.

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I think I am going to just update the suspension on the original frame. This sounds like my best way of doing things. Maybe a tubular arm front suspension or something like that.

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